KEY POINTS:
Four-time Paralympian Sholto Taylor has been named flag bearer for the New Zealand team at the opening ceremony in China tonight (midnight NZ time).
Taylor was a member of the gold medal-winning WheelBlacks wheelchair rugby team in Athens and said the honour of leading the team was second only to that experience.
"First place was winning gold in Athens. But second place has just been replaced with this occasion."
The announcement was made by team captain Tim Prendergast, who said he was pleased to see the flag go to someone with such a long history at the games.
"The mana Taylor brings to not only the WheelBlacks but also the wider team. This is Taylor's fourth Paralympics and he has three medals from past Paralympics."
There should be no concerns over keeping Taylor up late for the ceremony as the wheelchair rugby games do not start until Friday.
New Zealand has sent a team of 30 to compete in athletics, boccia, cycling, powerlifting, shooting, swimming and wheelchair rugby.
The first Kiwis to compete on Sunday are the boccia team of Liam Sanders, Kerri Bonner, Jeremy Morriss, Maurice Toon, Henk Dijstra, Greig Jackson and Amanda Slade starting their round robin series, while Jayne Parsons and Annaliisa Farrell compete in tandem cycling.
The same venues used for the recent Olympics will be used, with the Paralympics running until September 17.
- NZPA
